Al-Azhar Grand Imam sends message to Egypt's Armed Forces

CAIRO – 10 February 2018: Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayyeb issued Friday night a statement commenting on the "Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018" announced by the Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior to purge the country from terrorism.

"We have followed with great interest the launch of comprehensive operations by the Armed Forces and police on Friday against terrorist and criminal elements as well as organizations in north and middle Sinai and other areas in the Nile Delta as well as the desert areas west of the Nile valley," Al-Tayyeb said.

He added: "We affirm to our brave heroes of the armed forces and police in the battlefields and those deployed on the borders, that Al-Azhar and its scientists and students stand with you in the same trench against the evil elements and terrorism, who shed blood and violated territories, aiming to undermine Egypt's security and stability."

He continued: "My heroic sons of the armed forces and the police, we support you in this fateful battle until the elimination of this dreaded epidemic ... and purge our precious beloved Egypt from its evils. We have great confidence in your ability to defeat this black terrorism."

"Our brave heroes, be armed with your faith in Allah! You should know that you are on a national duty to protect the country and the people, our hearts go out to you, our tongues pray to you, asking Allah for your victory and to return to your homes safe. May Allah protect Egypt and its people from any disaster or harm," the statement concluded.

The Egyptian Armed Forces and police have raised a state of high alert across different governorates to execute a comprehensive security crackdown against terrorists, according to statements issued on Friday by the Armed Forces.